A Parent’s Guideto the National ChildcareFunding Programmes2018/2019

What can your local City/County ChildcareCommittee do for YOU?

Contents

Choosing Early Years Education and Care

• Introduction and Types of Childcare 3

• Beginning your Search 4

• Contacting an Early Years’ Service 5

• Choosing an Early Years’ Service - 6

Questions to ask and what to look for

• What’s next once you have chosen an Early Years’ Service 8

National Childcare Funding Programmes

• Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme 9

• Community Childcare Subvention Universal (CCSU) 13

• Community Childcare Subvention CCS/CCSP 14

• Table 1 CCS/CCSP Eligibility 15

• Community Childcare Subvention Resettlement (CCSR) 16

• Community Childcare Subvention Resettlement

(Transitional) (CCSR(T)) 16

• Free Childcare for Homeless Families 17

• Training and Employment Childcare 18

- Childcare Education and Training Support programme (CETS) 18

- Community Employment Childcare programme (CEC) 19

- After-School Childcare programme (ASCC) 20

• Frequently asked Questions for Parents 21

• Useful Contact Details 23

• City/County Childcare Committee Contact Details 24

Dublin City Childcare Committee would like to acknowledge the support of the management, staff,children and families of One Family, Smithfield, for allowing us to take photos with consent.

Photography by John Ohle.

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What canyour local City/CountyChildcare Committee(CCC) do for you?City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) wereestablished nationally in 2001 to encourage thedevelopment of childcare locally. CCCs offer a widevariety of services locally; we offer information andguidance to Early Years providers, childminders,parents and the general public on a variety of issuesrelating to Early Years Care and Education.

CCC’s administer the National Childcare Fundingprogrammes on behalf of the Department of Childrenand Youth Affairs (DCYA).

The aim of this guide is to provide parents withinformation about the National Childcare Fundingprogrammes.

Different Types of ServiceProvidersEarly Years services and childminders provide full-time care, part-time care, sessional and after-schoolservices. Fees charged are generally at the discretionof the service provider.

Private Service ProvidersPrivate service providers offer quality childcareservices that are run as private businesses. TheseEarly Years services range from small businesses thatare operated by sole traders to larger childcarefacilities that are operated by companies, some ofwhich may have a number of different services invarious locations. Private services may offer the EarlyChildhood Care and Education programme (ECCE),Community Childcare Subvention (CCS), CommunityChildcare Subvention Plus (CCSP), CommunityChildcare Subvention Universal (CCSU), CommunityChildcare Subvention Resettlement (CCSR),Community Childcare Subvention Resettlement(Transitional) CCSR(T) and the Training andEmployment Childcare (TEC) Funding Programmes.

Community Service ProvidersCommunity Service Providers (not-for profit) offerquality Early Years services and are managed by avoluntary Board of Management. Community basedchildcare services may offer the ECCE, CCS, CCSP,CCSR, CCSR(T) and TEC childcare FundingProgrammes.

ChildmindersA Childminder is a self-employed person whoprovides childcare in their own home. Childmindersmay offer the National Funding Programmes toparents subject to meeting certain criteria.

Types of Childcare:Sessional:A sessional service refers to a programme for childrenfor up to 3.5 hours per session. Services may offer amorning and/or an afternoon session.

Part-Time Day Care:A part-time day care service refers to a programmefor children over 3.5 hours and less than 5 hours perday.

Full Day Care:A full day care service refers to a programme ofactivities for children for more than 5 hours per day.A full day service may include sessional and part-timeservices and School Age Childcare Services forchildren attending primary school.

School Age Childcare:School Age Childcare refers to centre-based servicesfor school aged children from 4 – 12 years whichoperate during one or more of the following periods:before school - after school - during the schoolholidays.

Childminders:Childminding services refers to care for childrenwithin a Childminders home. A Childminding servicemay include sessional and part-time services andSchool-Age Childcare services for children attendingprimary school.

(Tusla, 2016).

Introduction

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Step 1: Consider your early years’ servicerequirements, the type of the service youchoose will depend upon:

• your child’s needs and your familyneeds

• the type of service you prefer

• the options available in yourcommunity

Step 2: Contact your local City/County ChildcareCommittee who will provide you with adirectory of services within your area.

Step 3: How much childcare do you require?Knowing your childcare needs will helpyou to narrow down your options. Youmay need a full time early years service (5hours or more each day), part time careonly (3.5 hours up to 5 hours), sessionalcare (up to 3.5 hours) or perhaps a home-based childminding service.

Step 4: Find out if you are eligible for financialsupport through the available NationalChildcare Funding Programmes. There arevarious financial supports available forparents and families through the currentNational Childcare Funding Programmesand also through a Universal Subsidy forchildren between the age of 6 months to36 months as detailed in this Parent’sGuide. If you have further queries aboutthe National Funding Programmes pleasecontact your local Childcare Committee.

Step 5: Once you have created a shortlist of earlyyears’ services in your area that may meetyour childcare needs, you can contactthem directly to enquire further andarrange an appointment to visit theservice. Guidance on contacting a serviceand arranging a visit are detailed onpage 5.

Beginningyour Searchfor EarlyYears CareandEducation

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Making an informed decisionBy completing background research into early years’services, it supports you to make informed decisionswhen choosing an early years’ care and educationservice. The Early Years Care and Education sector isregulated under the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years’Services) Regulations 2016. Tusla Child and FamilyAgency has statutory responsibility to supportcompliance and quality standards through regularinspection.

Early Years Inspections:Inspection is designed to ensure the health, safety andwelfare of children and the promotion of theirdevelopment. It is also to ensure that Early Yearsservices comply with relevant statutory requirementsincluding the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years’ Services)Regulations 2016. Tusla Child and Family Agency isresponsible for inspecting pre-schools, crèches, day-care and similar Tusla registered services which cater forchildren aged 0-6 years. This agency has statutoryresponsibility to assess levels of compliance with theRegulations and works with service providers inpartnership to promote a culture of compliance.Inspection reports are valuable published resources, alist of Tusla registered service inspection reports can beviewed through Tusla’s website www.tusla.ie underthe Family Support Early Years Inspection section.

The Child CareAct 1991 (EarlyYears’ Services) Regulations 2016It is the duty of every person providing an early yearscare and education service to take all reasonablemeasures to safeguard the health, safety and welfare ofthe children attending the service and to comply withthe Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services)Regulations 2016. The Regulations document and theAmendments to the Regulations document areavailable through Tusla’s website www.tusla.ie.

Initial contact/phone interview:Once you have completed research regarding services,the next task is to shortlist potential early years’ services.A brief email or phone interview asking your keyquestions will guide you to the next stage of choosinga suitable service. When you contact an early years’service, you can ask a number of questions initially.These questions may help you to shortlist providers andmake informed decisions in choosing appropriate carefor your child.

Such questions may include:

• Is the service registered with Tusla?• What are the opening hours of the service?• What age range of children does the service

accommodate?• Are there spaces currently available or is there a

waiting list in operation?• What type of childcare is provided, e.g. full day care,

part-time, sessional, etc.?• If your child has specific needs, is the service

resourced to meet those needs?• Which National Childcare Funding Programme does

the service participate in, if any?• What information is already available to you -

Website, Facebook page etc.?

Arranging a visit to an EarlyYears’ Service:After an initial phone interview it is recommended youvisit the Early Years service. Arrange an agreed date andtime with management, and visit during operatinghours. If possible, bring another family member andyour child along.

It is essential that you meet the manager and staff,explore the setting’s environment, and discuss thepolicies and procedures that are in place. This is youropportunity to ask about practice such as the servicesapproach to behaviour management, the procedures inplace for emergencies, is there a healthy eating policyand how the service will encourage your child’s interestsand promote independence? Then as a parent/guardian, you can decide if the service complimentsyour approach to parenting and is it the appropriate fitfor you and your family.

Some points to consider:• Narrow your choices down to a couple of services

that best suit your child and your family needs.• Consider first impressions of the service. Would you

be happy to leave your child in that service?• Consider external information available to you:

Tusla’s Early Years’ and the Department of Educationand Skills (ECCE services only) inspection reportsare available online.

• Has anyone been able to recommend the service to you?• Don’t be afraid to ask questions. An Early Years

provider should be happy to inform parents on theirservice, their approach to education and care andclarify any common misconceptions.

Contacting an EarlyYears’ Service

Choosing anEarly Years’ ServiceQUESTIONS TOASK&WHAT TO LOOK FOR?

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The LearningEnvironment:Look for:• Is the indoor and outdoor environment spacious,

bright and welcoming?

• Are the premises in good repair, clean, secure andsafe?

• Are the rooms well-arranged allowing for safemovement of the children?

• Is the equipment and toys age appropriate, safe, ingood repair and varied?

• Do all children have easy access to the toys andlearning materials?

• Is there evidence of the children’s work displayedthroughout the service?

• Are children free to choose activities?

• What learning opportunities are offered throughthe curriculum, e.g. physical play, outdoor play,individual activity, group activity, creative activities,construction opportunities? Etc.

• Do the children seem content, comfortable andhappy in their surroundings?

• Are the children engaged in conversation, with anactivity or meaningful play?

• Can you observe caring and respectful interactionsbetween adults and children?

• How is daily information about childrencommunicated to parents/guardians, i.e. diaries,scrapbooks, etc.

Ask:• What will a typical day for my child look like? Is

independence promoted and encouraged?

• How will staff help my child during the settling inprocess?

• Do the children have an opportunity to mix withother age groups, i.e. siblings?

• How often do the children go outside?

• What curriculum approach is used?

• How many children (your child’s age group) arebeing cared for in the room?

• How do staff manage difficult or challengingbehaviour?

• Is there an open-door policy? Can you visit at anytime?

Health and Safety:Look for:• Entry and exit points to building and rooms that are

clear and clutter free.

• Doors to children’s rooms with viewing panels.

• An area that displays information about who is thedesignated person in charge. Some services may alsodisplay photographs and names of their staff team.

• An area that display information about who is theFirst Aid Officer, the Health and Safety Officer andthe Designated Liaison Person for Child Protectionconcerns.

• Evidence of fire safety procedures such as fireevacuation assembly points, fire extinguishers,smoke alarms, fire exits, record of fire drills andrecord of evacuation procedures.

• Outdoor play area, nappy changing area, sleepingand resting facilities that are safe and appropriate.

• Hygienic food preparation areas that areinaccessible to the children.

Ask:• Who has access to the building?

• Is there a safety statement and can you view it?

• Is there a Child Safeguarding Statement in place?

• Is food prepared on the premises?

• Transport: Is there a school drop off/collectionservice in place? Does the vehicle have seatbeltsand /or booster seats as appropriate? Is the vehicleappropriately insured with a qualified driver andstaff member?

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• Child Protection: Is there a Child SafeguardingStatement in place? Is there a procedure forreporting child protection concerns? Have staffattended child protection training and hold up-to-date certification? Is there a Designated LiaisonPerson and Deputy Designated Liaison Person?Have all staff been Garda Vetted and referenceschecked?

• Collection policy: Who can collect your child?What measures are in place to ensure only thoseauthorised to collect your child have access to yourchild? Are passwords or ID required? Are there latecollection penalties?

• Illness and Exclusion policy: What is the setting’sillness policy and their policy around theadministration of medication? What are theexclusion periods for illnesses? What happens if mychild falls ill on the premises? If my child has specificmedical needs, how will they be accommodated?

• Accident/incident/emergency care: Whatprocedures are in place in the event of a medicalemergency? At what stage of an emergency willyou be contacted? How are you informed of anyincidents/accidents relating to your child?

• Outings: Are the children taken on outings? Howfrequent are the outings? What is the adult to childratios while off the premises? Are these outingscovered by insurance? Ask to see the OutingsPolicy.

• Healthy eating policy: Do parents supply food ordoes the service provide food? Are there samplemenus available to view? Can the service cater forspecific dietary requirements that your child mayhave? What are the meal times? What happens ifyour child doesn’t eat their dinner? What types ofdrinks and snacks are permitted in the service? Iswater available throughout the day?

• Is the service registered with Tusla? A list ofregistered services can be found on Tusla’s websitewww.tusla.ie

Management & Staff:Look for:• Confirmation from the designated person in charge

that all staff meet the qualification requirement, areGarda Vetted and Police Vetted (where necessary),and references are checked before working with thechildren.

• Adequate number of adults in each room to meetthe adult:child ratio requirements as set out in theEarly Years Regulations 2016.

• Staff that are positively interacting with the childrenand colleagues, e.g. at the child’s level, positiveverbal and body language, and communicationthat is respectful and encouraging.

• Signs of a professional and caring approach toworking with children, colleagues and you as apotential parent of a child in their care.

Ask:• Who will be looking after your child?

• Is there a Key Worker System in place? (one staffmember who is responsible for supporting yourchild’s transitions and communicating keyinformation to you) How often will you be able tocommunicate with this person?

• Is there a high turnover of staff? If so, any reasonsor explanation for this.

• Are the staff Garda Vetted and references checkedas required by the Early Years Regulations 2016?Do new staff members complete an inductionfollowed by adequate supervision?

• Is there a designated person in charge on thepremises at all times during hours of operation?

• What opportunities are there for parents/guardiansto get involved with the service (e.g. outings, plays,family events, etc.)?

• How are concerns about children, staff or theservice dealt with? Is there a complaintspolicy/procedure?

Fees:• What is the weekly/monthly charge for the childcare

you require? How often are fees paid? What is thepreferred method of payment? What period ofnotice do I need to provide when I no longer needchildcare?

• Is a deposit required? Is the deposit refundable?Always ask for a receipt of deposit.

• Are there any extra/optional charges e.g. latecollection, additional hours.

• What are the payment arrangements regardingholidays, e.g. Christmas and mid-terms?

• If transport is supplied to and from school, is thisan extra cost?

• What National Funding Programmes does theservice participate in and which programme are youeligible for? Information on the National ChildcareProgrammes are detailed in this guide.

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When you have visited early years’ services,you may feel you are in a better position tochoose the right one for your child and family.Once you have chosen a service, there aresome simple steps to take next:• Contact the service provider to begin the

enrolment process. If you wish to visit the serviceagain, make an appointment.

• When paying a deposit, ask for a receipt and beclear of the criteria around refundable/non-refundable deposits. Note that deposits for ECCEonly sessions cannot exceed 4 weeks’ capitation.

• If your child’s name is placed on a waiting list, askfor written confirmation and for the servicesprocedure in managing the waiting list.

• Arrange a start date and settling in period in linewith the procedures of the service.

• Prepare your child for their new experience bytalking about the service, what they might dothere, about their new teacher and friends theywill make.

• Share as much relevant information as possiblewith the staff caring for your child such as anyillnesses, allergies or medical needs, likes anddislikes, eating and sleeping patterns, etc. Ensureyou have enough time to do this. The moreinformation you provide about your child theeasier it is for staff to meet your child’s needs, andthe easier it is for your child to transition fromhome to the early years’ service.

• Ensure the service is provided with everythingthey require to care for your child such asnappies, food, bottles, etc.

• Request a copy of the policies and procedures.

• If you are availing of a funding scheme, ask forclarification on the associated notice period (e.g.if you choose to move to another service, what isthe notice period and if the funding stays with thechild or with the service in these instances).

What’s Nextonce you havechosen anEarly Years’Service?

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Early Childhood Care andEducation (ECCE) ProgrammeThe Free Pre-School Year in the Early ChildhoodCare and Education Programme (ECCE) is auniversal childcare programme designed to givechildren access to up to 2 years free pre-schooleducation before they start primary school.

Is my child eligible for the ECCEProgramme?Children are eligible for the ECCE Programme oncethey have turned 2 years and 8 months of age beforethe 1st of September 2018. You may enrol your childat any stage during the 2018/2019 Programme Yearonce they meet the eligibility criteria of 2 years and8 months of age before the 1st of September 2018.

Howmuch will it cost?If your child is eligible for the free pre-school yearthen your child is entitled to a pre-school session of3 hours per day, 5 days per week, for 38 weeks, forfree.

Childcare services can charge for additional servicesthat they provide, such as additional hours andoptional extra activities, such as trips, swimming,parties, etc. Childcare services receive a capitation of€64.50 per week for 38 weeks, for each child. If youavail of extra hours/optional activities, your ECCEpayment will be applied as a reduction of €64.50weekly for 38 weeks.

It is not mandatory that children attend 5 days perweek but, where they do not, the capitation fee willbe reduced on a pro-rata basis.

How do I knowwhich childcareservices are in the ECCE programme,and how do I get a place for my child?A list of current ECCE services is available from yourlocal City/County Childcare Committee. You shouldmake contact with some local childcare services tosee if they have ECCE places available. They willexplain their fees to you, along with any extras thatthey offer. Once you have found a childcare servicethat you wish your child to attend, they will ask youfor some information about your child, such as yourchild’s PPS number and date of birth.

Can I transfer my child from onechildcare service to another?You may choose to transfer your child from one ECCEservice to another at any stage during the pre-schoolyear. You must give 4 weeks’ notice to the childcareservice, and you are required to complete a transferform, which must be signed by the original serviceand the new service. If you transfer your child withoutany notice period, the original service will be paid 4weeks capitation in lieu of notice and you will haveto pay fees for the following 4 weeks in the newservice.

Can I use a Childminder instead?Yes, childminders who meet certain requirements canapply to provide the ECCE programme.

Please contact your local City/County ChildcareCommittee to find out if any childminders in yourarea are participating in the programme.

Are there exemptions to the upper agelimit?If your child is above the upper age limit for the ECCEprogramme there are some circumstances where thechild can continue to participate in the ECCE programme.

In exceptional circumstances, exemptions from theupper age limit may be granted where a child hasadditional needs which delay their entry to school.Applications for such exemptions must be submittedin writing to the DCYA and must include a letter ofrecommendation from a specialist stating support forthe child to avail of a further year of preschool.Exemptions will not be granted where a child will turn6 during the pre-school year.

TheAccess and InclusionModel (AIM)The Better Start Access andInclusion Model (AIM) is a modelof supports designed to ensurethat children with disabilities canaccess the Early Childhood Care and Education(ECCE) programme. Its goal is to empower serviceproviders to deliver an inclusive pre-schoolexperience, ensuring that every eligible child can fullyparticipate in the ECCE programme and reap thebenefits of quality early years care and education.

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The model is designed to be responsive to the needsof each individual child in the context of their pre-school setting. It will offer tailored, practical supportsbased on need and will not require a formal diagnosisof disability.

What supports are providedunder AIM?There are 7 levels of supports available through AIMranging from universal supports to targetedsupports. Levels 1- 3 of the model involve a suiteof universal supports which are designed to promoteand support an inclusive culture within pre-schoolsettings. However, where a service provider, inpartnership with a parent/guardian, considers thatsome further additional support may be necessary tomeet the needs of a particular child, they can applyfor one or more targeted supports under Levels4 – 7 of the model.

Level 1: An Inclusive Culture: A newInclusion Charter has been developed for the earlyyears sector. The purpose of the Charter is todemonstrate the sector’s commitment to inclusion.Service providers are invited to sign-up to this Charterby producing and publishing their own InclusionPolicy. To support this process, updated Diversity,Equality and Inclusion Guidelines for Early ChildhoodCare and Education have been produced and anational training programme on the Inclusion Charterand the Guidelines is delivered by the City andCounty Childcare Committees.

Level 2: Information for Parents andProviders This level recognises the requirementof parents and providers to have clear, consistent andup to date information accessible to them regardingECCE and AIM services and supports. In depthinformation on AIM for providers and parents isavailable on the national website www.aim.gov.ie

Level 3: A Qualified and ConfidentWorkforce This level recognises the requirementto continue to develop a qualified workforce that canconfidently meet the needs of all children wishing toparticipate in the ECCE Programme. A highereducation programme, “Leadership for Inclusionin Early Years” or LINC, funded by the DCYA, hasbeen available annually since 2016. Graduates fromthe programme take on the role of InclusionCo-ordinator within their pre-school setting tosupport and further guide inclusive practice.

Level 4: Expert Educational AdviceService Under level 4, service providers can accessa national service, Better Start, where specialists inearly years care and education for children withadditional needs can provide expert advice,mentoring and support. The degree of supportoffered by Early Years Specialists will depend on theneeds of the child and the service provider.Application for targeted supports are made with thepermission of and through partnership withparents/guardians.

Level 5: Equipment, Appliances andMinor Alterations A national scheme isavailable to provide specialised equipment,appliances or capital grants towards minor buildingalterations, where these are necessary based on therecommendation of a designated professional, tosupport access to facilitate a child’s participation inpre-school. Applications for Level 5 supports aremade by a service provider, in partnership with aparent.

Level 6: Therapeutic Intervention Therapyservices which are considered critical for a child’sparticipation in the Early Childhood Care andEducation programme will be made available.Arrangements are in place with the Health ServiceExecutive (HSE) to deliver this service and a numberof additional therapy posts have been funded underthe Access and Inclusion Model to support thisservice provision.

Level 7: Additional Assistance in thePreschool Room This level recognises that asmall number of children (approximately 1.0% – 1.5%of those availing of the ECCE Programme) will requiremore support than is available through Levels 1 – 6.Where the above supports are not sufficient to meetthe needs of the child, service providers, inpartnership with parents, can apply for additionalcapitation to fund extra support in the classroom orto enable the reduction of the staff to child ratio.

Further detailed information for parents/guardians,including frequently asked questionsin relation to the Access and InclusionModel (AIM), can be found online atwww.aim.gov.ieFor more information on the ECCE Programmeor AIM contact your local City/County ChildcareCommittee or the Early Childhood Service whereyou would like your child to attend.

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THE ECCEPROGRAMME

YOUR CHILDS ELIGIBILITY FOR

The programme is available to all children from the age of 2 yearsand 8 months. Table 1 below sets out relevant eligibility dates by year of birth:

Table 1: Eligibility for ECCE by month of birth

Birth date between Eligible Enrolment date(s) ECCE end date

1st January 2014 - 1st April 2017, 1st September 2017 + June 2019 31st March 2014 1st September 2018*

1st April 2014 - 1st September 2017 +31st August 2014 1st September 2018* June 2019

1st September 2014 - 1st January 2018 + 31st December 2014 1st September 2018* June 2019

1st January 2015 - 1st September 2018 +31st December 2015 1st September 2019 June 2020

1st January 2016 - 1st September 2019 + 31st December 2016 1st September 2020 June 2021

1st January 2017 - 1st September 2020 +31st December 2017 1st September 2021 June 2022

1st January 2018 - 1st September 2021 + 31st December 2018 1st September 2022 June 2023

1st January 2019 - 1st September 2022 +31st December 2019 1st September 2023 June 2024

*Children born between 1st January and 31st December 2014 will continue to be eligiblefor free pre-school under the terms of the ECCE expansion as announced in Budget 2016. ECCE eligibility criteria as announced under Budget 2018 will come into effect with effect from 1st September 2018.

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The following section of this guide is derivedfrom theAffordable ChildcareWebsite

www.affordablechildcare.ieand the Rules for DCYA Childcare FundingProgrammes document, 9th August 2018

With Special Thanks to the Department of ChildrenandYouthAffairs (DCYA) for providing

and sharing this information.

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If your child is aged between 6 months and 36months* and is enrolled in Tusla-registered childcare,you are eligible for a non means-tested universalchildcare subsidy of up to €20 per week. Thatamounts to up to €1,040 per year.

*Your child may continue to receive the universalsubsidy until they commence their ECCE (freepreschool year). In some cases, this will be slightlyolder than 36 months.

CCS Session Type Universal Band(CCS Band U)(Weekly Subsidy)

Full-time (i.e. 5.01 or more hours) €20

Part-time (i.e. 3.31 to 5 hours) €10

Sessional (i.e. 2.16 to 3.30 hours) €7

Half-sessional (i.e. 1 to 2.15 hours) €3.50

If your child is under 6 months old, you may qualifyfor a means-tested childcare subsidy of up to €145per week. To see if you qualify for this childcaresupport see Table 1 on page 15.

Children must be enrolled in TUSLA registeredchildcare services in order to avail of theuniversal subsidy. To see a list of TUSLAregistered childcare providers please see theAffordable Childcare websitewww.affordablechildcare.ie

How do I apply for theUniversal Subsidy• Speak to your childcare provider to check if they

are offering the subsidy.

• For the universal payment of up to €20 per weekprovide the PPSN and date of birth of the childand the PPSN of the parent(s) to your childcareprovider to register.

• The subsidy will be paid directly to your childcareprovider and will be deducted from the cost ofyour childcare.

If you have any questions about this scheme,please contact your local City/County ChildcareCommittee (CCC).

CommunityChildcareSubventionUniversal(CCSU)

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Community ChildcareSubvention CCSOverview of CCSThe Community Childcare Subvention (CCS)Programme is a childcare programme targeted tosupport parents on a low income to avail of reducedchildcare costs at participating community childcareservices. The Department of Children and YouthAffairs pays for a portion of the childcare costs foreligible children, with the parent paying theremainder.

The CCS is only available through participatingcommunity not-for-profit childcare services; a list ofthese services are available through your local CCC.The service provider submits an application for CCSon behalf of the parent. CCS subvention is availablefor 52 weeks of the year.

CCS services may cater for infant, pre-school andafterschool places. They may also incorporate abreakfast club. Some CCS services may be stand-alone services and cater for just one type of servicee.g. afterschool.

Am I eligible for the CCSProgramme?A child must be under 15 years of age to be eligiblefor the 2018/19 CCS programme. A child will not beeligible if they are enrolled on any other DCYAchildcare programme.

If you are a parent/guardian who:• holds a medical card or GP visit card;• is on low income;• is in school;• in further education;• job training;• or in receipt of a social welfare payment,

then you may be eligible for assistance with yourchildcare costs.

To view the eligibility criteria see Table 1 on page15 of this guide.

Community ChildcareSubvention Plus (CCSP)Overview of CCSPThe Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP)Programme provides support for parents on a lowincome to avail of reduced childcare costs atparticipating privately owned childcare services andat community not-for-profit childcare services; a list ofthese services is available through the local CCC. TheDepartment of Children and Youth Affairs pays aportion of the childcare costs for eligible children, withthe parent paying the remainder. The eligibility of theparent is determined by their status with theDepartment of Employment Affairs and SocialProtection and is set out on Table 1 on page 15 of thisguide. Interested parents should contact their localparticipating childcare service in the first instance.

Am I eligible for the CCSPProgramme?A child must be under 15 years of age to be eligiblefor CCSP, that is, the child must be born on or after1 September 2003 to be eligible. CCSP subvention isavailable for up to 52 weeks of the programme year.

If you are a parent/guardian who:• holds a medical card or GP visit card;• is on low income;• is in school;• in further education;• job training;• or in receipt of a social welfare payment,

then you may be eligible for assistance with yourchildcare costs.

To view CCS/CCSP Eligibility and rates see Table1 on the next page.

Community ChildcareSubvention CCS/CCSP

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Eligibility criteria

Band A(with medical card unlessotherwise stated)

• One Parent Family Payment• Widows/Widowers Pension• Farm Assist• Fish Assist• State Pension Con/Non-Con• Blind Pension• Guardian’s Payment Con/Non-Con• Illness/Injury Benefit• Disability Allowance• Carer’s Benefit/Allowance• Back to Work Enterprise/

Education Allowance• Community Employment/

Rural Social Scheme• Domiciliary Care Allowance• Working Family Payment (WFP)• Secondary Students• Invalidity Pension• Disablement Pension• Partial Capacity Benefit• Official Tusla Referrals (no

medical card required)• HSE Public Health Nurse referrals

(no medical card required)• TÚS• Part-time Job Incentive Scheme• Gateway

Band AJ(with medical card)

• Job Seeker’s Benefit/Allowance*

• Supplementary WelfareAllowance**

Band B

• Medical Card• Parents who are in

receipt of SocialWelfare paymentslisted under Band A/AJbut have no medicalcard

Band D

• GP Visit Card(over 6yrs+only)***

• Parents who no longerqualify for Band A/AJthis year but who wereverified as being onBand A/AJ at the endof the previous schoolyear

*parents who qualify for Band AJ under Jobseeker’s allowance/benefit receive maximum subvented childcare of €80 for full day care per week.**parents who qualify for Band AJ under Supplementary Welfare Allowance payments receive maximum subvented childcare of €80 for full day care per week.***Please note GP visit card for children 0-6 years of age does not qualify for CCS/CCSP subvention funding. A Family GP visit card does qualify for CCS/CCSPThe maximum subvention is €145 per week; however, the amount will depend on how much childcare you use and what funding you are eligible for.

Weekly rate Band A Band AJ(with medical card unless otherwise stated) (with medical card) Band B Band D

(Full-Day payment (5.01 hrs +)) €145 €80 €70 €50

(Part-time payment (3:31-5:00)) €80 €80 €35 €25

(Sessional payment (2:16-3:30)) €45 €45 €25 €17

(Half-session payment (1:00-2:15)) €22.50 €22.50 €12.50 €8.50

For information on CCSR and CCSR(T) see page 16 of this guide.

Table 1 CCS/CCSP EligibilityYour eligibility is determined by your status with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection(DEASP). The level of the subvention is determined by your DEASP status and also by the level of childcare yourequire. The eligibility criteria and subsequent childcare and subvention options are set out in Table 1 below.

To qualify for enhanced targeted subsidies you will need to provide proof of eligibility, for more informationcontact your local CCC to find out more.

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CommunityChildcare SubventionResettlement (CCSR)

Overview of CCSRCCSR is intended to support the ProgrammeRefugees (PRs) in their resettlement and integrationinto Irish society. It enables parents to attend alanguage and orientation course within theirreception centre for eight weeks and then a full yearfollowing their move into the community.

Am I eligible for CCSR?

Age of eligible childParticipating pre-school going children must bebetween 0 and 5 years old on their start date.

School-aged children (between 6 and 12 years) canaccess childcare for the primary school holidayperiods only.

How do I apply for CCSR?Parent/s must supply a completed eligibility lettersubmitted and signed by the Department of Justiceand Equality. Please contact your local CC for moreinfo.

Types of Places under the CCSRProgrammePart-time places (between 3hrs 31mins and 5hrs) areprovided under the CCSR programme.

CommunityChildcareSubventionResettlement(Transitional)(CCSR(T))

Overview of CCSR(T)CCSR(T) provides access to free childcare for childrenof families experiencing homelessness. The provisionprovides subvention for all pre-school children. Thescheme is also designed to help those transitioningfrom homelessness to permanent accommodation.

Eligibility for CCSR(T)Age of eligible childParticipating pre-school going children must bebetween 0 – 5yrs on their start date.

School-aged children (between 6 and 12 years) canaccess childcare for the primary school holidayperiods only.

How do I apply for CCSR(T)?

i. A verification letter from Focus Ireland (if in theDublin area) or from their local authority (for allcounties outside Dublin) is required.

ii. In order to confirm eligibility, both the Parent’s andChild’s Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) arerequired, as well as the child’s date of birth.

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Centralised Email AddressA centralised email address has been established for Childcare Services to contact Focus Irelandrepresentatives directly if there is availability within your service for children to avail of CCSRT childcare funding.

This email address is: childcareinformation@focusireland.ieThe childcare service may email Focus Ireland directly if a place becomes available for a child to attend withinthe CCSRT programme, this will assist the Focus Ireland team to locate early years places for children who areeligible to avail of CCSRT.

Within this email please include thefollowing details:

Name of Service:

Address of Service:

Contact Details:

Number of Places available:

Age group of place/s:

Day/s available:

Sessional or Part time place/s:

The contact details have changed inrelation to the Focus Irelandrepresentatives:

Niamh Lambe - (086) 8386832childcareinformation@focusireland.ie

Laura Young - (087) 3666380childcareinformation@focusireland.ie

James Donnelly - (086) 3813563childcareinformation@focusireland.ie

Grainne Finnegan -(087) 1744592childcareinformation@focusireland.ie

You can also call the landline(01) 7036100 to speak to a FocusIreland member.

The CCSRT (Transition)Parents Information leaflethas been updated to reflectthe new contact details forFocus Ireland representatives

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The objective of the TEC Programmes is tosupport parents on eligible training courses andeligible categories of parents returning to work,by providing subsidised childcare places. TEC isonly available through participating early yearsservices; a list of these services is availablethrough the local CCC.

There are 3 strands of the TECprogramme:

• Childcare Education and TrainingSupport programme (CETS)The CETS Programme provides childcare tocertain training course participants on coursesprovided by the Education and Training Boards(ETB, formerly FÁS and VEC) and SecondarySchools.

• Community Employment Childcareprogramme (CEC)The CEC is administered on behalf of theDepartment of Employment Affairs and SocialProtection (DEASP) and provides childcare forchildren of parents who are participating onCommunity Employment schemes.

• After-School Child Care programme(ASCC)The ASCC is administered on behalf of theDepartment of Employment Affairs and SocialProtection (DEASP) and provides afterschool carefor primary school children for certain categoriesof working parents and parents on DEASPemployment programmes (not includingCommunity Employment).

Childcare Educationand Training Supportprogramme (CETS)Childcare places can be full-time, part-time,afterschool only or after-school with transport places.ETBs and Solas have sole responsibility for decidingwho is eligible to avail of this strand of the TECProgramme.

Am I eligible for a CETS place?Participants on the following Further EducationProgrammes are eligible to apply for CETS funding:

• CETS approved Education and Training Board(ETB) courses (Formerly FÁS Training Centres)

• CETS approved Vocational Training OpportunitiesScheme (VTOS)

• CETS approved Youthreach

• Back to Education Initiative (BTEI)

• Secondary school students completing Junior orLeaving Certificate cycle

How do I apply for CETS?Parent must provide a letter from their trainingprovider to include hours of course and start andfinish dates. Once you have found a childcare service,the service will ask you for a copy of your letter ofeligibility as evidence that you are eligible for theCETS programme. They will ask you to complete aTEC Child Registration Form, with details of you andyour child’s PPS numbers, dates of birth, etc., along

Training andEmploymentChildcare(TEC)

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with information about the type of childcare placerequired. They may also ask you for proof of you andyour child’s PPS numbers and dates of birth.

Howmuch will the CETS placecost?The maximum amount that you can be charged perweek for a CETS place is:

• Full-time Childcare Place - €25 per week

• Part-time Childcare Place - €15 per week

• After-school Childcare Place - €5 per week

• After-school (with transport) Childcare Place -€15 per week

CommunityEmployment Childcareprogramme (CEC)The CEC programme provides part-time orafterschool care for children up to 13 years of age.

Am I eligible for CEC?If you are a parent taking part in a CE scheme, youare eligible for a CEC place for your child. Your CEsponsor should give you a letter of eligibility for CEC.

This letter must contain the following information:

• Name of parent

• Start date of entitlement to childcare support

• Confirmation that the parent is eligible for theCEC programme

How do I apply for CEC?A list of current CEC services is available from yourlocal City/County Childcare Committee.

Once you have found a childcare service, they will askyou for a copy of your letter of eligibility as evidencethat you are eligible for the CEC programme.

They will ask you to complete a TEC ChildRegistration Form, with details of you and your child’sPPS numbers, dates of birth, etc., along withinformation about the childcare place required. Theymay also ask you for proof of you and your child’s PPSnumbers and dates of birth.

Howmuch will the CEC placecost?The maximum amount that you can be charged perweek for a CEC place is:

• Part-time Childcare Place - €15 per week

• After-school Childcare Place - €15 per week

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After-School Child Careprogramme (ASCC)The After-School Child Care programme providesafter-school care for primary school children forcertain categories of working parents. It isadministered on behalf of the Department ofEmployment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP).DEASP have sole responsibility for deciding who iseligible to avail of this strand of the TEC Programme.

Places can be after-school only or after-school withtransport places. Places can also be approved for fullday care up to a maximum of 10 weeks (when yourchild is on school holidays and you require full daycare).

• Pro rata payments are applied for 3, 4 or 5 dayplaces.

• Parents are entitled to a maximum of 52 weekson the scheme, regardless of how many days aweek they may avail of.

• Services will be paid for 52 weeks in total.

• Where eligible parents require childcare formorning periods before the child starts school,rather than after-school hours, this can beaccommodated under the scheme. The samerates apply.

Am I eligible for ASCC?In order to be eligible for ASCC a client must be inreceipt of Working Family Payment (WFP) andincrease hours of work or satisfy the below:

• Be in receipt of Jobseekers’ Benefit (JB)or Jobseekers’ Allowance (JA), Jobseekers’Transitional payment (JST) or One-parent FamilyPayment (OFP) or be on a DEASP employmentprogramme (or any combination of the above) forat least three months (78 days) AND have one ormore children aged between 4 and 13 years whoare in primary school

AND

• Commence any one of the following:employment (either full-time or part-time) ORincrease their employment OR a specified DEASPemployment programme as follows (exceptCommunity Employment): WPP, BTWEA, TUS,Gateway or RSS

How do I apply for ASCC?Your local DEASP office will be able to tell you if youare eligible for an ASCC place. If you are, your DEASPoffice should give you a letter of eligibility for ASCC.This letter must contain the following information:

• Name of parent.

• Start date of entitlement to childcare support.

• Confirmation that the parent is eligible for theASCC programme.

Once you have found a childcare service, they will askyou for a copy of your letter of eligibility as evidencethat you are eligible for the ASCC programme. Theywill ask you to complete a TEC Child RegistrationForm, with details of you and your child’s PPSnumbers, dates of birth, etc, along with informationabout the childcare place required. They may also askyou for proof of you and your child’s PPS numbersand dates of birth.

Howmuch will the ASCC placecost me?The maximum amount that you can be charged perweek for an ASCC place is:

• After-school Childcare Place - €15 per week

• After-school (with transport) Childcare Place -€15 per week

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When do the subsidies start?

Registrations for the subsidies start from August 2018.

Where do I apply?

Parents should apply through their chosen childcareprovider.

Is the subsidy paid to the parent or thechildcare provider?

The subsidy is paid to the childcare provider. It shouldbe offset against the cost of childcare for thatprovider. If, for example, a childcare provider charges€170 per week for a full day care place, the amountcharged to parents when the universal subsidy isapplied should be €150 per week.

What does ‘registered’ childcare mean?

All childcare services in the Republic of Ireland arecompelled to register with Tusla; the Child and FamilyAgency and are subject to regulation and inspection.Some childminders are also registered with Tusla andtherefore may also participate in the FundingProgrammes.

Are the subsidies available per child or perfamily?

The subsidies are available for each eligible child inyour family. For instance if you have two children whoare not yet old enough to avail of the ECCE (free pre-school programme) then both will qualify to receivethe universal subsidy of up to €20 per week. Thisadds up to €1,040 per year per child in full timechildcare.

What are the Universal Subsidy Rates?

CCS Session Type Weekly Daily(Universal) Subsidy Subsidy

Full-time(i.e. 5.01 or more hours) €20 €4

Part-time(i.e. 3.31 to 5 hours) €10 €2

Sessional(i.e. 2.16 to 3.30 hours) €7 €1.40

Half-sessional(i.e. 1 to 2.15 hours) €3.50 €0.70

What if my child is only availing ofchildcare for a couple of days per week?

All subsidies are available on a pro-rata basis. Forexample, if a child is availing of childcare for two daysper week, the amount of universal subsidy availablewould be €8 per week (€20/5 = €4 x 2 days = €8).

If my child is eligible for the ECCEProgramme, but can’t find a place within aservice, will my child be eligible to receivethe universal subsidy until an ECCE placeis available?

No. The universal subsidy is only available until thechild becomes eligible for the ECCE Programme.However, children eligible for the ECCE Programmemay still be eligible for the targeted subsidiesprovided under the CCS and TEC Programmes.

FrequentlyAskedQuestionsfor Parents

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Who is eligible for CCS/CCSP personalisedsupport subsidies?

Take a look at the table on page 15 of this guide. Ifyou are in receipt of the supports listed you mayqualify for childcare subsidies of as much as €145 perweek per child.

Do I need to pay a deposit for my childcareplace?

Childcare providers may charge new parents/guardians a refundable booking deposit to hold aplace for a child in ECCE, CCS, CCSP and TECschemes. For CCSR / CCSR(T) Childcare providersmay not request booking deposits fromparents/guardians to hold a place. For the ECCEscheme the maximum deposit a provider may chargeis equivalent to four weeks’ ECCE payment. ForCCS, CCSP and TEC schemes the maximum deposita provider may charge is equivalent to two weeks’payment.

The full amount of the DCYA subvention held ondeposit must be refunded to the parent/guardianonce the child’s registration is approved. When andhow the balance of the deposit is returned to theparent/guardian is a matter for the provider. Forexample under CCSP where a service’s weekly fee is€200 and the subvention due is under band A is€145, the service may charge a two week deposit of€400. Once the registration has been approved theservice will refund the amount of €290 to the parent.

Can I be asked to pay for optional extras?

Yes. Childcare providers may charge for optionalextras, but where a parent/guardian does not chooseany of the optional extras, their child must beprovided with the full service provision. Eachoptional extra must be identified individually on thefees list. Childcare providers cannot charge for anyactivities/items which form part of the ECCE service.DCYA determine what can and cannot be charged asoptional extras to ensure every child’s effectiveparticipation in the programme. Parents may chooseto opt out of any optional extras by giving onemonths’ notice to the childcare provider.

What documentation is required?

To enter in to the programmes you may be asked tosign some of the following documents:

• Child Registration form should be completed forall funding schemes. Information is used toregister the child on online ProgrammesImplementation Platform (PIP). The ServiceProvider will then destroy this document, for dataprotection purposes.

• PIP parental declaration forms: Wheninformation has been registered on PIP, the serviceprovider will print off the PIP Parent DeclarationForm which must be signed by parents.

• Fees list and service calendar: Service Providersmust complete a fees list and service calendar atthe beginning of each programme year. They mustshow details of all the fees charged to parents, aswell as details of any additional charges, optionalextras, discounts or donations applied by theservice

• Programme Service Fees Information Letter:Parents will be asked to sign to show that theyhave read and understood the contents. Thisletter will be kept on file by the childcare provider.

• Parents sign in sheets or permission letters:For TEC Schemes only.

If you have additional questions related to the various funding schemes, please contact your localChildcare Committee for advice and information. Contact details for each Childcare Committee areavailable on the back of this guide.

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Useful ContactsDepartment of Children andYouthAffairs (DCYA)The Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA)was established on 2nd June 2011. The DCYAfocuses on harmonising policy issues that affectchildren in areas such as early childhood care andeducation, youth justice, child welfare and protection,children and young people's participation, researchon children and young people, youth work and cross-cutting initiatives for children.

Contact Details:Department of Children and Youth AffairsBlock 1,Miesian Plaza,50-58 Baggot Street Lower,Dublin 2, D02 XW14

Tel: +353 1 6473000Fax: +353 1 6473101E-mail: contact@dcya.gov.ieWeb: www.dcya.gov.ie

PobalPobal is a not-for-profit company that managesprogrammes on behalf of the Irish Government andthe EU. Pobal provides a range of services to andon behalf of the Department of Children and YouthAffairs in the area of early education and childcare.

Contact Details:PobalHolbrook HouseHolles StreetDublin 2D02 EY84

Telephone: 01 511 7000Fax: 01 511 7981Email: enquiries@pobal.ieWeb: www.pobal.ie

National Childcare OrganisationsSeven national childcare organisations currentlyreceive funding under the Equal OpportunitiesChildcare Programme to promote quality. Theseorganisations are:• Barnardos• Childminding Ireland• Early Childhood Ireland• Irish Steiner Kindergarten Association• St. Nicholas Montessori Society of Ireland• National Childhood Network• National Parents Council

City/County Childcare Committee Contact Details

Carlow 059 9140244

Cavan 049 4365856

Clare 065 6864862

Cork City 021 4310500

Cork County 022 23880

Donegal 074 9123442

Dublin City 01 8733696

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown 01 2896600

Fingal 01 4851727

Galway 091 752039

Kerry 066 7181582

Kildare 045 861307

Kilkenny 056 7752865

Laois 057 8661029

Leitrim 071 9640870

Limerick 061 600918

Longford 043 3342505

Louth 042 9336364

Mayo 094 9047010

Meath 046 9073010

Monaghan 047 72896

Offaly 057 9135878

Roscommon 094 9622540

Sligo 071 9148860

South Dublin 01 4570122

Tipperary 062 64200

Waterford 051 295045

Westmeath 044 9335454

Wexford 053 9237156

Wicklow 0404 64455

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This document was revised by Dublin City Childcare Committee in August 2018.